Science Communication Strategies for Primary Educators for Effective Teaching
List of Authors
Jayaram Nanthini1, Sayed Yusoff Syed Hussain
Keyword
Science Communication, Primary Science Education, Teaching Strategies, Teacher Training
Abstract
Science communication acts as a catalyst in promoting student-centred learning. In the context of schools, any teacher who engagingly presents scientific concepts becomes a science communicator. Effectively communicating science in the classroom often requires detailed explanations, which may need to be repeated multiple times due to the complexity of the content. A teacher’s ability to effectively communicate a scientific concept is a key indicator of their teaching skill. To address this, SEAMEO RECSAM developed ‘SciConnect: Bridging Science and Primary Education through Effective Science Communication’, a module designed to enhance science teaching in Southeast Asian primary schools. This module was designed based on ADDIE model. A comprehensive study conducted in May 2023 through the "Communication Strategies for Teaching Science to Primary Learners" webinar, which gathered insights from 714 dedicated educators across SEA countries was conducted. A needs analysis conducted during the webinar identified key challenges such as 80% of educators reported challenges in profiling students to tailor teaching contents and expressed difficulties applying storytelling techniques to enhance science lessons. Additionally, over 85% of educators found it challenging to select and adapt science content from credible sources for primary learners and to design interactive class activities for science communication. These findings emphasised the need for a structured module that equips educators with practical tools and strategies. The module integrates core components, including student profiling, media literacy, multimodal communication, storytelling in science, and science writing. Refined with input from five expert reviewers, the final version of the module was pilot-tested in a workshop with in-service primary teachers and district education officers, receiving highly positive feedback. Participant evaluation, collected via a five-point Likert-scale survey, indicated strong agreement (mean scores: 4.2–4.7) on the module’s clarity, structure, and practical applicability. Educators particularly valued student profiling, media literacy for science content development, and storytelling techniques to enhance engagement.